are they real, solid wood, or that plastic-like fake finish looking wood trim?

if solid wood, yes you can paint them. it's a lot of work to lightly sand them, then prime w/an oil base primer, and then paint with a good trim paint.

Zinsser oil base primer, of Kilz Adhesion primer, are good

https://www.jennaburger.com/2012/09/how-to-paint-mouldings/

honestly? I'd remove them and do a more modern trim/basebaord. it will look better

but if your doors are good wood, you can add trim molding to them and paint

these are a DIY

I think these baseboards look like plastic-like ones. Yours are gorgeous! Oh that's a good idea for the doors to add trim but these doors doesn't seem like real wood either.

Wow these are great ideas! Thanks so much!

Ok, so if neither is real wood, I wouldn't waste the time.

Do you like the looks of the baseboards? the thinner look?

normally 5" is what's in right now.

you can find it (if you know where to shop) for about 35 cents a foot. and it's super easy to paint. it's already primed. Show this pic to anywhere that carries baseboards, and they'll get it for you

These are mine. you can see most of them in this pic.

the opening is also a larger, flat type of trim. I would do this around all of your interior doors.

So the reason I say replace, is it looks better, and is easy to install if you have a few tools.

Do you have any plans on changing out your flooring? If yes, then just wait and redo all the baseboards then.

If no, then think about doing it now.

If you want to spend all that time to paint what's there, you'll have to clean them very well, then lightly sand in order to take off the gloss, Clean them again to wipe down all the dust, then prime (you can't skip these steps) , lightly sand AGAIN, then you can paint. That's the only way you can keep them from peeling and looking good.

BTW, if you ever change your flooring and DONT redo the baseboards, then you'll have to install shoe molding. see the little white molding up next to the baseboards? that's shoe. and it hides the gap up against the old moldings

that's why I mentioned if you're going to change flooring, then remove old baseboards and take the new flooring up to the wall, and put new moldings right down on top of new floor.

Love your baseboards! And yes much easier to replace now that you describe the process of painting them yikes! And I never would've known the term "shoe" for the gaps lol. Super great tips and advice I really appreciate it!

My opinion is that if you were to replace the baseboards with 5 inch flat that it doesn't match the door frames now. If the right right products, procedures, and applications are being done anything can be painted. My idea is that unless you are replacing door and window trims along with the new baseboards it won't match anyway so maybe paint the door frames and baseboards and leave the doors. Or you could even darker up the oak doors by painting them a darker colour or adding some deeper tones in staining and clear coating them a darker walnut colour. Both definitely doable.

If you are looking to paint the base and/or door frames then my prices would be to sand them with 120 grit sandpaper, dust, and prime with BIN alcohol based primer (brush out trim). Let dry a day. Sand with sponge, and 2 top coat with your preferred latex based semi-gloss paint. I don't know what region you are in of the country but there are particular paints that I could recommend depending on what stores you are privy to there.

There are many options that will look great. It's all a matter of how much time you or if you are hiring a professional contractor it is just a matter of being sure of his application and process to give you lasting results. Adhesion is the battle in this case so prep is the most important part before laying you desired top coats. But, good products is the key here.

Hope I gave you some insight as to your options and the potential processes involved. Best wishes.

Thanks so much for the details! This is very helpful. We don't have a timeline yet when to start (we just started updating our stairs ripped out the carpet etc) but these steps/materials/procedures will definitely help once we go the DIY route. Thanks again!